(117715) Carlkirby Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 2 April 2005 by R. Hutsebaut at Mayhill.
Carl Kirby (b. 1949) is an enthusiastic amateur astronomer who, rather than give up for health reasons his quest for scientific knowledge, passed on the torch to the discoverer, by electing to sponsor his work at the New Mexico Skies Observatory.Naming citation (20060809/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Carlkirby is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Carlkirby is 3.10 au from the Sun and 3.86 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 117715 |
| Provisional designation | 2005 GK1 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Diameter | 8.27 km (#6,334 largest of 17,440 named asteroids with a measured size) |
| Albedo | 0.0540 |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 14.7 |
| Orbital period | 5.53 years |
| Semi-major axis | 3.13 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 2.84 – 3.41 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.0911 |
| Inclination | 10.3° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 1.88 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Carl
- (2044) Wirt
- (3360) Syrinx
- (5493) Spitzweg
- (6058) Carlnielsen
- (6175) Cori
- (7414) Bosch
- (7911) Carlpilcher
- (7973) Koppeschaar
- (8058) Zuckmayer
- (8268) Goerdeler
- (8677) Charlier
- (9180) Samsagan
All asteroids named after someone called Carl
Also discovered on 2 April 2005
- (117713) Kovesligethy
- (117714) Kiskartal
- (129161) Mykallefevre
- (171118) Szigetkoz
- (180824) Kabos
- (184318) Fosanelli
- (260601) Wesselenyi
- (318547) Fidrich
- (348383) Petibon
- (642097) Kusturica